Am I the only one here who thinks these are VERY detailed and quite revealing? No, not like a studio monitor, but the level of detail is actually very high. I do have it recabled though (cheap stuff) and this might help a bit.
I remember once comparing them to the HD-600/HD-650 and found them even more detailed and revealing. HD-650 fans will say otherwise, but that's OK
Of course this is with budget (under $350) amps. I won't be surprised if the HD-650 could be made more revealing with a new cable and $1000 amp+dac. Well, duh. I've foun the HD-598 doesn't improve too much with amp upgrades. Not like the HD-600 and HD-650.
Heck, these things can even pick up recording hiss, static and all that other annoying stuff with ease. With my new cheapy recable, there's some details I'm hearing that I've only heard on the DT-880, KRK KNS-8400 and Koss A/250 (detail monster!). I don't even think it's there on my Q701, but i'll need to check.
I think often that some details are easier to hear on headphones with different sound signatures. For example, there's some detail I can hear on the KNS-6400 that's not there on the 8400. Does it mean the 6400 is more detailed? Not really.
It seems like so many people on here say headphone A is more detailed than headphone B, but don't give proof of this. Like does the detail suddenly go missing? To me it seems like when a headphone is fairly revealing, that detail almost never goes missing. Often due to frequency variations, it's easy to get fooled into thinking one headphone is more detailed, but it really is just that this "detail" is more forward and present.
Someone should do a review of all the detail monsters and take notes of each tracks. Maybe I can do this when I get bored. I'm willing to bet money the HD-598 is more detailed than the HD-650. It'd make for a nice comparison. People say the HD-650 is very detailed, but yet say it's not meant to be. Huh?! Isn't that a strength of the HD-650? Not being too revealing and make lower quality recordings sound fairly decent? To me, the HD-598 is good a taming some very bad tracks, but is a bit more revealing than the HD-600/650. A tiny bit more unforgiving. Yes, I said it.
I think the HD-598 holds up very well to the Q701 when it comes to the level of detail. Loses out on sound clarity a bit, but the HD-598 is a bit more musical IMO. I love both about equally though.
I'm really surprised there are not more HD-600 vs HD-598 reviews. I think the 598 is far better than the HD-600 and HD-650 and not just due to preferences. People (me included) say the HD-650 is technically better, but I think this is just an excuse without doing a review. Too bad I no longer own the HD-650.
BTW I know the science guys will love this, but I think all the HD- headphones are held back by their crappy stock cables. I think there is a reason for their selection though. I guess they're not bad, just that it holds back what they're capable of. The HD-598 stock cable is a joke..
Just got in my 598s... and they don't fit the jack for my computer. The 1/4 -> 1/8 stepper is too wide to fit in the spot it has to go into :/ 
